Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan
Background: As an influenza epidemic poses a serious public health threat, it is important for the public to adopt behaviors that effectively prevent influenza infection. Methods: In the winter of 2009, by using a structured questionnaire, we conducted an Internet survey with respect to residents (n...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034117301284 |
| _version_ | 1831688981313486848 |
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| author | Shintoku Takahashi Kazuhiro Sato Yukinori Kusaka Akihito Hagihara |
| author_facet | Shintoku Takahashi Kazuhiro Sato Yukinori Kusaka Akihito Hagihara |
| author_sort | Shintoku Takahashi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: As an influenza epidemic poses a serious public health threat, it is important for the public to adopt behaviors that effectively prevent influenza infection. Methods: In the winter of 2009, by using a structured questionnaire, we conducted an Internet survey with respect to residents (n = 2788) in Fukui prefecture, Japan. The main aim is to obtain information about effective prevention, factors related to preventive awareness and behaviors during the influenza epidemic. A factor analysis and linear regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Three types of preventive awareness were identified by factor analysis: “avoidance of influenza infection,” “awareness of the benefits of mask use,” and “awareness of the need for a rapid diagnosis.” Gender, age, residence, being medical person and being vaccinated were related to these preventive awareness and behaviors. Avoidance of influenza Infection was related to all preventive behavior, awareness of the benefits of mask use was related to hand disinfectant use, and awareness of the need for a rapid diagnosis was related to avoidance of face touch, gargling and attention to health care, respectively. Conclusion: Three types of preventive awareness during the influenza epidemic were emerged, and were related to preventive behaviors against influenza infection. Keywords: Infection, Influenza, Epidemic, Preventive awareness, Preventive behavior |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:39:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4b53a6ac6aa43c0869b8718350ab967 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:39:37Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4b53a6ac6aa43c0869b8718350ab9672022-12-21T19:43:34ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412017-09-01105637643Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, JapanShintoku Takahashi0Kazuhiro Sato1Yukinori Kusaka2Akihito Hagihara3Division of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan; Corresponding author at: 23-3 Matsuoka-shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture 910-1193, Japan, Division of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui. Fax: +81 776 61 8107.Division of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, JapanDivision of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, JapanDepartment of Health Communication, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, JapanBackground: As an influenza epidemic poses a serious public health threat, it is important for the public to adopt behaviors that effectively prevent influenza infection. Methods: In the winter of 2009, by using a structured questionnaire, we conducted an Internet survey with respect to residents (n = 2788) in Fukui prefecture, Japan. The main aim is to obtain information about effective prevention, factors related to preventive awareness and behaviors during the influenza epidemic. A factor analysis and linear regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Three types of preventive awareness were identified by factor analysis: “avoidance of influenza infection,” “awareness of the benefits of mask use,” and “awareness of the need for a rapid diagnosis.” Gender, age, residence, being medical person and being vaccinated were related to these preventive awareness and behaviors. Avoidance of influenza Infection was related to all preventive behavior, awareness of the benefits of mask use was related to hand disinfectant use, and awareness of the need for a rapid diagnosis was related to avoidance of face touch, gargling and attention to health care, respectively. Conclusion: Three types of preventive awareness during the influenza epidemic were emerged, and were related to preventive behaviors against influenza infection. Keywords: Infection, Influenza, Epidemic, Preventive awareness, Preventive behaviorhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034117301284 |
| spellingShingle | Shintoku Takahashi Kazuhiro Sato Yukinori Kusaka Akihito Hagihara Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| title | Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan |
| title_full | Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan |
| title_fullStr | Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan |
| title_short | Public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in Fukui, Japan |
| title_sort | public preventive awareness and preventive behaviors during a major influenza epidemic in fukui japan |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034117301284 |
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